Gun control advocates, foes trade shots over proposed bills

Poll shows support for tougher firearms laws

GOP lawmakers say they won't work.

On the eve of Gov. Ed Rendell testifying for stronger gun control laws, forces on both sides of the debate exchanged fire in a battle of public relations.

On one side of the trenches: Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee to whom Rendell will make his pitch this morning. They argued that more police, not more laws, are the key to lessening gun violence in Pennsylvania's cities.

Staring back at them: the Philadelphia-based gun control advocacy group CeaseFirePA. In a classic bit of divide-and-conquer, the group released a poll it said showed overwhelming support for tough new laws in the home districts of committee members who had previously opposed them.

"Voters are looking to Harrisburg for solutions," said Ben Tulchin, of Greenberg Quinlan, Rosner, a Washington, D.C., polling firm that conducted the study.

Pollsters interviewed 600 people -- 100 each in six districts, including those of Reps. Craig Dally, R-Northampton, and Carl W. Mantz, R-Berks.

The poll was conducted between Nov. 4 and 6 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points overall. The margin of error was plus or minus 9 points in individual legislative districts.

Rendell will address the Judiciary Committee today on three bills: one requiring handgun owners to report lost and stolen weapons; one limiting handgun purchases to one per month, and one allowing counties, cities and municipalities -- with voter approval -- to set their own gun laws. Votes are to follow.

Republicans held their event Monday as their opponents discussed the poll results. Flanked by 10 colleagues, Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin, said, "We need to make sure we have enough police officers on our streets to protect our citizens."